Interests:This is a blog for Xangans to get together and discuss options, mobilize awareness, and prevent the further "ethnic cleansing" of innocent African tribes in the Sudan. Expertise:visit www.savedarfur.org to sign up you college campus or community center to host meetings, organize rallies, and sign letters to President Bush. Learn how to take action now. Occupation:Student Industry:Nonprofit
Hope you are all keep up the fight. Remember that however bad you feel about the situatiom, nothing will happen unless you demand change and take action.
We encourage you to get together with friends or people from school or work and start raising more awareness. The more we push, the more we can affect the lives that are being destroyed and bring food and medicine to those hundreds of thousands of displaced victims.
Even if you've sent one before, please click here and take a second to send more postcards to President Bush. Every voice counts.
It took three months for Fatouma Moussa to collect enough firewood to justify a trip to sell it in the market town of Shangil Tobayi, half a day's drive by truck from here. It took just a few moments on Thursday for janjaweed militiamen, making a mockery of the new cease-fire, to steal the $40 she had earned on the trip and rape her. Speaking barely in a whisper, Ms. Moussa, who is 18, gave a spare account of her ordeal. "We found janjaweed at Amer Jadid," she said, naming a village just a few miles north of her own. "One woman was killed. I was raped."
We'll update soon - MANY thanks to everyone that continues to support the Effort.
December 1, 2005 Posted to the web December 1, 2005
As the number of people needing humanitarian assistance in western Sudan's strife-torn Darfur region rose to almost 3.5 million people, the United Nation peacekeeping mission's access dropped to less than three-quarters of those in need, the lowest rate since April of last year, according to the latest figures available.
"During the month UN accessibility in Darfur dropped to 70 per cent overall, the lowest rate since April 2004. Especially in West Darfur, with all roads out of Geneina being declared UN no-go, accessibility dropped to an unacceptable level of 45 per cent," the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) said of the newly released Darfur humanitarian profile for September.
Although nearly 14,000 aid workers are now employed by 13 UN agencies and 82 non-governmental organizations (NGOs), "a primary concern is the continued state of insecurity and the resulting risk that the humanitarian operations will have to continue for a prolonged period of time," it said.
If the situation continues, the 1.8 million internally displaced people (IDPs) cannot be expected to return home in any significant numbers and large numbers of people will continue to need assistance, UNMIS said.
Despite the daily banditry targeting vehicles, in September the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and its partner NGOs delivered a record 46,500 tons of food to almost 2.7 million needy people and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) provided primary health care to 2 million people, it said.
In southern Sudan where the 21-year civil war, the longest-running in Africa, ended at the beginning of this year, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) launched a programme today of taking Sudanese delegations from among the 73,000 refugees in Kakuma camp in northwestern Kenya to visit their home regions and report back.
Some 12,000 Dinka people and their hundreds of thousands of cattle have started the move back to their southern Bor homeland from Western Equatoria, where tensions had been rising between them and the local Moru people, UNMIS said.
Several UN agencies have been collaborating in assisting the trek, with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) having recently issued a press release saying the movement of so much livestock was likely to worsen tensions between different pastoralist groups.
To guard against the spread of diseases, meanwhile, FAO has provided thousands of doses of vaccines against Haemorrhagic Septicaemia, Black Quarter and anthrax.
WHEW! We have been busy here, as you can tell from the length of time it's been since we've update in the Xanga community. A HUGE thank you to everyone that is keeping up and doing what they can. You are making a difference! Here's what's going on now:
TAKE ACTION:Call Congress and Urge Swift Passage of the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act
As the situation in Darfur continues to deteriorate, we need Congress to do its part to end the atrocities by passing the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act now that they have returned from last week’s recess. We therefore urge you to call your Representative and Senators and let them know that you expect them to pass this important and necessary legislation before they adjourn for the year next month. [Click here for details on who to call and what to say]
NEWS: Coalition Members Deliver Letter to President
We write on behalf of the Save Darfur Coalition, an alliance of 134 faith-based, humanitarian, and human rights organizations with over 130 million Americans united in horror and dismay at the genocidal campaign under way in Darfur, Sudan. In just over two years, the Sudanese Government and its paramilitary allies have killed more than 400,000 people, driven 2.5 million from their homes, and left 3.5 million without the food they need to sustain themselves...[Read More...]
Take Action Now
Whatever you choose to do, you will be making a difference in ending the violence in Darfur and reducing the suffering of your neighbors, even though they may live thousands of miles away.
If we all play even a small part, together we will make a very big difference.
I thought you would want to see this distressing news immediately. It certainly emphasizes the urgency of our work.
If you wish to contact me, please write to david@savedarfur.org rather than hitting "reply." To unsubcribe, please use "reply," and put the word "unsubscribe" in the subject field.
Thank you for your support.
Dave Rubenstein
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New Analysis Claims Darfur Deaths Near 400,000 Experts estimate 500 people a day are dying
In the most comprehensive statistical analysis to date, experts have concluded that close to 400,000 people have died in Darfur since the conflict began over two years ago. The Washington-based Coalition for International Justice (CIJ) and experts from Northwestern and Toronto Universities estimate that 140,000 people have been killed by Sudanese government forces and their proxy militia and 250,000 Darfur civilians have died from either disease, starvation or exposure.
"This is the first thorough review of data which recorded deaths from violence, disappearances, disease, starvation and exposure during flight in the largest geographical area yet available in Darfur," said John Hagan, the John D. MacArthur Professor of Sociology and Law at Northwestern University, who led the analysis of the estimated 140,000 deaths by violence.
Hagan and his colleague University of Toronto researcher Patricia Parker reviewed data culled from 1,136 interviews of refugees from Darfur conducted by the Coalition for International Justice last summer, as well as data presented in the World Health Organization's survey of deaths in refugee camps last year. Based on their analysis of the combined data, they estimate that the number of persons who have died or disappeared between February 2003 to April 2005 is close to 400,000.
The initial CIJ survey was initiated by the US State Department and led the US government to conclude last September that the events in Darfur constituted genocide.
"These numbers continue to grow as the attacks persist and aid organizations are denied access to civilians in urgent need of international assistance," said Stefanie Frease, CIJ's Director of Programs, who led the international team that interviewed refugees from Darfur in Chad last summer. "Despite the death toll so far, not enough is being done to save the thousands who will inevitably die unless the world community supports the type of intervention needed to stop the killing."
Analysis of the combined CIJ and WHO surveys reveals that about 15,000 deaths are occurring per month, or about 500 deaths per day.
The analysis of CIJ interviews was independently initiated by Hagan, Parker and CIJ.
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Stefanie Frease Director of Programs Coalition for International Justice 529 14th Street, N.W., Suite 1187 Washington, D.C. 20045 tel. (202) 483-9234 fax. (202) 483-9263 www.cij.org
First off, we want to say a big thanks to all the supporters of the refugees and victims - their voices would never have been heard without all of you to work on their behalf. That is our mission; to help those that cannot help themselves!
Latest News
Things are still looking grim for survivors and their families. They are being referred to as "Displaced" and are without the food, water and medicine they need. To add to that, the aid workers that have been sent in with such supplies are now being attacked. You can read this article for more information: April 19, 2005 - UN Fears War-Crimes Suspects Behind Sudan AttacksSudan Tribune
Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir, his Nigerian and Egyptian counterparts Olusegun Obasanjo and Hosni Mubarak, and Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi discussed means of restarting negotiations between Khartoum and the rebels, a source at the Egyptian presidency said. Read more: April 19, 2005 -African Leaders Optimistic About Darfur Talks Independent Online
Clashes between the Government and rebels in Sudan's western Darfur region, attacks against international aid workers, rape and the persecution of its victims, abuse of children, and torture by security forces, underscored a continuing dire situation, according to the latest United Nations report on the region released . April 18, 2005 - UN Reports No Security Improvement in Darfur AllAfrica
Women and girls who have fled ethnic cleansing in Darfur are being raped and subjected to sexual violence around the camps where they have sought refuge, Human Rights Watch said in a briefing paper released today. The briefing paper documents how the Sudanese security forces, including police deployed to protect displaced persons, and allied Janjaweed militias continue to commit rape and sexual violence on daily basis. Even as refugees in Chad, women and girls fleeing the violence in Darfur continued to face the risk of rape and assault by civilians or militia members when collecting water, fuel or animal fodder near the border. April 12, 2005 -Women Raped Even After Seeking Refuge Reuters
In light of the continuing necessity for international intervention in Darfur, Sudan, the United Religions Initiative Global Council have voted to endorse the Darfur Unity Statement, according to a URI press release.The Darfur Unity Statement, which was drafted by the Save Darfur Coalition, seeks "a massive worldwide humanitarian response and call to end the violence and investigate crimes against humanity."URI is joining that call by becoming the latest organization to sign its name along with over 100 other faith-based and human rights groups. April 11, 2005 - Interfaith Group Backs Call to End Darfur Genocide Christian Today
We know that the news isn't all happy; but instead of letting that depress readers, we strongly urge you to take this opportunity to get involved and work against something that we know is wrong.
